***Flashback chapter***

"No Women!"

Jack paused, listening to the beginning of a brawl. He tightened the length of rope he held to the deck and moved toward it.

"Cap'n, please! She's got nowhere to go!" A young blonde barmaid stood at the ramp, gliding up to the ship, trying to convince the ship's burly, balding captain. "Her parents are dead, and she's got every pint of pirate's blood runnin' in her veins."

"And?"

"Well, let's see your forearm," She glared at him.

"Look, I've got no use for women, especially useless, mute women. There's no room here for her," He said hotly, watching the blonde closely.

" Well, I've got no more place for her!" She retorted. "Please, Arden Klane needs to be at sea. She's traumatized just now, and rightly so! She's seen her Mother shot and her Father hanged for Piracy," her voice was desperate. "Don't let them kill a 16 year old girl as well."

The captain softened. "I'm sorry, I've no room. I can't take her."

The wench broke with an agitated sigh and turned, leading a slim, dark skinned girl away by her upper arm. She looked back at the ship with longing, stormy eyes.

"Cap'n, sir, let her take board with me," Jack said suddenly, stepping forward in a self-surprising decision

"Now, Sparrow, I do-"

"No good to condemn her, sir. I'll teach her what she needs to know. I'll watch her."

The Captain looked from the women, who shared distinctly different expressions of relief and happiness, to the young man.

"Very well," He said finally, stepping aside for him. "She'll be your responsibility. Her mistakes will be yours."

Jack eyed the girl, assuring the Captain and weighing the thought of what he'd just set himself up for. She wore fine boots and lush green pants tailored for her body, but a man's shirt that was obviously not hers. It was billowing around her, tanned with sun and age. Her face was stoic and her eyes glassy, obstructed by strands of ragged, snarled black hair that had come free from a green silk cloth.

"My name's Jack Sparrow," He said softly, reaching out for her hand. "Would you allow me to take you on board, Arden?"

She looked directly in his eyes, unnerving him with her extraordinary stare. Her dark skin had an odd pale look to it, and she had a chain around her neck that plunged into her shirt.

The blonde woman looked at the end of her rope, her hand tight around a small, tightly packed green bag.

She urged her forward, but Arden grabbed at her. "Come on, girl!" Her patience finally gave way and she shoved her forward.

Arden stumbled, stretching her hands out and catching Jack. He supported her, glaring at the wench.

"What're you doing?" He asked softly. "You said it, she's seen her parents killed, and you'll just toss her aside?"

"Oh, don't start with me," She spat. "Mr. Bleeding heart-well, it don't suit a pirate."

"There's no bleeding heart, miss, just a respect for innocent people," He helped Arden up and snatched the bag away. "Good day, miss."

"Good day, Sparrow," She said mockingly, faking a curtsey and walking away "We'll see you around, then?"

"I'd count on it," He called after her. "You'll know my name better than your own one day, wench, I swear."

Arden looked helplessly between the two, taking no action to follow the blonde woman, but no real emotion as to the ship.

"Alright, pet, I reckon you'll be needin' some rest, then?" He turned to her, taking his mind away from the irritating blonde. "Hows about I show you to your quarters?"

He took her hand, which was tense and stiff in his fingers, and led her up the gangplank. She held back a moment before following him, sliently, her eyes unwavering on him even under the stare and whispers of the other crew. Finally, her led her down a small flight of stairs and into a small, mahogany cabin.

"There's but one bed, but I'm happy to fashion a hammock for meself and a useful barricade, and-"

She looked away from him, sound coming from her.

"Hm?" He leaned closer to her.

"Thank you," She said again softly, in a sweet, trilling voice.

"Aw, it's alright, Arden," He hadn't heard that in a long time. "I only hope we can drop you off someplace nicer than here."

Her eyes swelled as she snapped them back up. Jack studied them, the colour of wet mahogany, and saw a modest amount of fear. Her breath was catching.

"Would you really?" She asked timidly.

"Um, well, We'll do what you want, eh?" He patted her hand awkwardly, setting her bag down on the bed as her breathing ebbed. "I can see you don't want to be left alone, and we'll do our best."

She only looked at him blankly, a muscle in her cheek twitching.

"Arden, give us a smile, luv," he said softly, brushing her loose hair back. She smiled weakly and the twitch withdrew. "That's right. This'll turn out for you, I promise."